Capital yet to regain its charm

ISLAMABAD - The Federal Capital on Saturday presented a deserted look as a large number of inhabitants mostly belonging to Punjab, NWFP and Pakistan Occupied Kashmirwho left for their home towns to celebrate Eid has not been returned despite the passage of 3-day official holidays. Attendance at the offices, collages and schools remained very thin. The students and teachers that present at collages and schools spent the day by sitting idle and chatting with each other instead of studying . Prevailing law and order situation, uncertainty especially after the unfortunate Marriott suicide blast might be the reasons that people are trying to spend as much time as they could with their loved ones before returning back to the Capital. Like every Eid this time too no hustle and bustle was witnessed in the markets as well on the roads. The busiest markets, roads, parks of the city were presenting deserted look even on the fourth day of the Eid. However, the Capital regained its charm when people alongwith their families and friends from sister city, Rawalpindi thronged to the recreational facilities to celebrate the jubilant moments. Public transport facility was available to the less-privileged commuters travelling from Rawalpindi to Islamabad. However overcharging on the part of transporters in the name of 'Eidi' was still going unnoticed. Besides, a majority of young bikers remained wheeling even on the busiest roads of the Capital and Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Road (Murree Road) despite the deployment of extra traffic police personnel with strict instructions issued by the police high ups to curb the very menace. " Though Eid is over but still we are enjoying each and every moments of the weekend", Usman Saqib, one of the bikers group member told TheNation. Heavily armed police contingents were deployed at all entry and exit points of the twin cities and around the mosques, imam bargahs and other places to avoid any untoward incidents. Each and every suspicious vehicle was being checked thoroughly. The almost roads of the city were also closed and alternative routs were defined by the Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) to keep maintain the traffic flow. The Constitutional Avenue was completely closed for the visitors. All routs leading to important venues like Parliament, Prime Minister Secretariat remained closed. Even officials of the various governments departments were not allowed to use the restricted areas. An official of Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) told this scribe that security personnel did not allow him to go through that roads leading to his office. However, I did negotiate with them but one of the security person told me that they could not allow anyone as per the direction of higher authorities", he added. A good number of employees of the federal government, banks and other departments took one-day leave on Saturday to avail five Eid holidays from October 1 to 5, causing thin attendance in the offices. The federal government had announced three Eid- holidays from October 1 to 3. The Punjab government had announced four holidays from October 1 to 4. The thin attendance of the staff at the local banks caused a lot of inconvenience for those who wanted to pay utility bills and traffic challans besides the pensioners and senior citizens on Saturday.